MANILA, Philippines - With the outcome of two world title fights involving Filipinos far from convincing, there is a possibility that a double rematch could be staged but dethroned WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro and hard-luck challenger Michael Farenas are left wondering if they’ll get a fair shake the second time around.
Last Sunday night, Jaro lost his title to Japanese mandatory challenger Toshiyuki Igarashi via a split 12-round decision at the Winghat Arena in Saitama. On the same card, WBA superfeatherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama retained his crown on a third round technical draw with Farenas.
As the challenger, Igarashi hardly took the fight to the champion, opting to keep a safe distance away. Jaro tried to chase him down and was clearly the aggressor. The more telling blows were scored by Jaro and it showed in Igarashi’s bloodied face in the end. But California judge David Mendoza saw it 116-112 and Korean female judge Kyung Ha Shin, 115-113, both for the Japanese, as Jaro’s reign came to a stunning halt after only three months. Texas judge Luis Escalona had it 116-112 for the Filipino.
Igarashi shed tears of joy or relief after the fight. His objective was to survive the distance with the hard-hitting Jaro and he got the job done. Jaro, in a gesture of sportsmanship reminiscent of Manny Pacquiao’s recent undeserved loss to Timothy Bradley Jr., didn’t raise a howl and congratulated Igarashi after the verdict was announced. He was visibly dejected but took the pain of losing the crown courageously.
For Kyung, it was her first world title fight involving men. She had previously worked WBC female and IFBA (International Female Boxing Association) championship fights since becoming a judge in 2006. Mendoza booked only his third world title fixture after the WBO welterweight bout between Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito in California in 1007 and the WBC lightflyweight contest between Rodel Mayol and Omar Niño Romero in Mexico in 2010. Mexican referee Gelasio Perez was just as inexperienced. He joined the referee ranks two years ago and had not worked a world title fight before. It was the first assignment in Asia for both Mendoza and Perez.
“I was shocked,” said Jaro’s manager Aljoe Jaro. “It was very clear that Sonny Boy took three of the first four rounds and in the last four, he also won three. At the end of the fight, I thought we would win or at worst, it would be a draw. Igarashi was hurt badly in the eighth and in the 11th, was saved by the bell.” There were no knockdowns. In the 12th, Jaro fell to the canvas but Perez ruled it a slip.
“The Japanese fans were happy because we didn’t protest,” said Jaro. “What for? That’s how it is in boxing. We were consoled by several fans who felt Sonny Boy won. I’ve spoken with Mr. (Akihiko) Honda about a possible rematch. Mr. Honda liked the idea. He admires Sonny Boy as a very strong fighter and appreciates his sportsmanship. Mr. Honda suggested that we help each other out. When the time comes, we will make an announcement.”
At the weigh-in the day before the fight, Igarashi tipped the scales at the flyweight limit of 112 pounds but Jaro went over by 500 grams and had to sweat it out in a steamed bathroom for 30 minutes before making the weight. Jaro and his traveling party arrived home from Japan yesterday afternoon. Aside from the fighter and manager, the Filipino group included cornermen Frankie Jaro, George Sol and Carlos Vasquez.
A heated argument erupted during the fighters’ medical check-up conducted by the Japan Boxing Commission last Friday when Igarashi’s camp virtually accused Jaro of taking performance enhancing drugs and demanded a blood test and urinalysis. Jaro pointed out that the WBC does not require both examinations one or two days before a fight and was upheld by supervisor Major Lee Won Bok of Korea. He said after the fight, doctors could extract buckets of blood and urine as much as they want.
Jaro, 30, was three inches shorter than Igarashi but the disparity didn’t seem to make a difference. Igarashi, 28, used his speedy footwork, not height, in avoiding a toe-to-toe confrontation with Jaro.
Farenas, 28, was frustrated in his first world title challenge. Uchiyama suffered a wound on his right eyebrow from an accidental headbutt and referee Raul Caiz, Sr. ruled the champion unfit to continue at 1:15 of the third round. Under WBA rules, the fight is declared a technical draw if a protagonist is unable to box because of an unintentional headbutt within four rounds.
“If it was Farenas who was cut, not Uchiyama, they probably would’ve allowed it to continue,” said Jaro. “The ringside doctor quickly recommended to stop it and the referee did.” The judges in the fight were Pinit Prayadsab of Thailand, Major Lee and Wan Soo Yuh of Korea. The WBA supervisor was Alan Kim of Korea.
Uchiyama, 32, failed to impress in his fifth title defense. His record is now 18-0-1, with 15 KOs. Last December, he was hailed for halting one-time Pacquiao victim Jorge Solis in the 11th round in Yokohama. Farenas’ record is now 34-3-4, with 26 KOs. Farenas and manager Gerry Peñalosa flew in on the same Philippine Airlines flight as Jaro yesterday afternoon.